This is an application of the characteristic identity satisfied by matrices whose elements are also elements of a semi-simple Lie algebra. Generalized eigenvectors are determined for matrices consisting of generators of GL(n), O(n) and Sp(n), and it is shown how to resolve the identity into idempotents constructed from such eigenvectors. By this means rather general functions of the matrices may be defined. It is also shown how to determine traces of such functions, in terms of the invariants of the Lie algebra.

An axially symmetric metric in oblate spheroidal co-ordinates is considered. Two exact solutions of the field equations corresponding to zero mass meson fields are obtained. The details of the solutions are also discussed. These solutions are also generalized to include electromagnetic fields.

The problem of heat transfer in a duct or tube for large values of the Péclet number has traditionally been solved by assuming that diffusion in the axial direction is negligible. This approach was used by Graetz [2] for the circular tube and by Prins et al [5] for the flat duct to obtain a series solution for downstream temperature field.

Since these series converge very slowly in the neighbourhood of the origin, some other approach is necessary in the thermal entrance region. This was supplied by Lévêque [3] and extended by Mercer [4] who matched the Lévêque solution to the eigenfunction expansion.

In all these solutions it was assumed that the axial diffusion of heat was negligible, but this assumption is invalid close to the discontinuity, since in this region the axial temperature gradient is large and the fluid velocity is small, so that axial diffusion plays an important role.

In this paper, the assumptions implicit in Lévêque's solution are re-examined, and the correct approximation in the neighbourhood of the discontinuity as well as the solution which matches this into Lévêque's solution are presented. In the first of these solutions, diffusion is the only heat-transfer mechanism, while in the matching solution diffusion and convection are in balance.

The corresponding solutions for the case of prescribed flux on the boundary are also considered.

An alternative method via generalised functions is used to obtain the surface integral representation for a finite body in an infinite fluid in Stokes flow. The problem is further generalised to a finite number of intersecting finite bodies in an infinite and semi-infinite fluid. Possible applications to line distributions for axi-symmetric bodies are discussed.

When studying deep convection in a compressible medium the effects of viscous dissipation can become important and must be taken into account in any realistic model. But even in shallow convection, for which the Boussinesq approximation is valid, the viscous dissipation effects will become important at high Rayleigh numbers. These effects are estimated with the help of asymptotic methods and the results are compared with those obtained by numerical integration.

Methods which make use of the differential equation ẋ(t) = −J(x)−1f(x), where J(x) is the Jacobian of f(x), have recently been proposed for solving the system of nonlinear equations f(x) = 0. These methods are important because of their improved convergence characteristics. Under general conditions the solution trajectory of the differential equation converges to a root of f and the problem becomes one of solving a differential equation. In this paper we note that the special form of the differential equation can be used to derive single and multistep methods which give improved rates of local convergence to a root.

A formula is given for assigning sums to divergent series where the ratio of adjacent terms varies slowly along the series. This formula consistş of a weighted average of partial sums and is shown to be a general formula which can be easily calculated using a simple recurrence relation. It appears to be more powerful than a repeated Aitken or Shanks e1 process as long as the transformed series remains divergent and it is also compared with the Padé approximants. It is demonstrated on a factorial series, on a nearly geometric divergent series and for the extrapolation of a velocity formula for small amplitudes of motion.

A homogeneous isotropic infinite elastic plate contains a circular cavity and a circular arc crack symmetrically situated about the x-axis. The cavity and crack are concentric but are of different radii. A circular inhomogeneity of radius slightly larger than that of the cavity is inserted into the cavity; thus generating a system of stresses in the outer material as well as in the inhomogeneity. The elastic field in the inhomogeneity and in the outer material outside the inhomogeneity is evaluated in this paper.

The contact problem investigated in this paper may be more fully described as a three dimensional elastic body with a circular hole through it; inside this tunnel is press fitted a solid elastic plug of finite length. Shear stresses are taken to be absent along the contact interface.

An influence coefficient technique is used to model the governing integral equation. For the elastic region the displacement influence coefficients due to bands of constant pressure are determined using a numerical quadrature on Fourier integrals. However, the plug, being of finite length, requires the superposition of two separate solutions to boundary value problems before the displacement influence coefficients can be determined.

Contact pressure distributions are presented for a sample of parameter variations and also for a case where hydrostatic pressure is present in the tunnel in the elastic region. Despite both components being elastic the imposition of a constant interference displacement along the interface still gives rise to the characteristic singularity in contact pressure at the edges of contact due to the strain discontinuity at these points.

Explicit formulae are derived for the projected gradient vector and trial dual variables required in the application of Rosen's method [4] to the solution of a Minimum Cost Network problem.

The aggregation–decomposition method is used to derive a sufficient condition for the equi-ultimate boundedness of large-scale systems governed by nonlinear ordinary differential equations.